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| 1 The oracle on the desert of the sea: As storm-winds in the South which, with a rush from the desert, do come from a terrible land, |
Desert of the sea – This only makes sense when looked at symbolically. A desert is a place without water. The sea here is the symbolic sea class, the irreligious restless masses of mankind. R498 |
| 2 [So] hath, a grievous vision, been told me:–The deceiver, is deceiving, And, the spoiler, is spoiling, Go up, O Elam, Besiege, O Media, All the sighing she hath caused, have I made to cease. |
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| 3 For this cause, are my loins filled, with anguish, Pangs, have seized me, as the pangs of her that is giving birth,–I writhe, so that I cannot hear, I tremble, so that I cannot see: |
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| 4 My heart fluttereth, A horror, terrifieth me,–My twilight of pleasure, hath he turned for me into a time of trembling. |
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| 5 [Ye thought] to prepare the table–spread the mat–eat–drink! . . . Arise, ye chieftains, anoint the shield! |
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| 6 For, thus, hath My Lord said, unto me,–Go, set the watchman, What he seeth, let him tell! |
A watchman – Pastor Russell. |
| 7 When he seeth, A train of horsemen in double rank, A train of asses, A train of camels, Then shall he hearken attentively, with diligent heed. |
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| 8 Then cried he, A lion! On the watch, O My Lord, had I, been standing continually, by day, And, at my post, had I, been stationed whole nights;– |
He cried, A lion – Corrected translation: "He cried as a lion." Here the watchman (Pastor Russell) cries out a message from our returned Lord (thus he is said to have "cried as a lion" - as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, as our Lord.)
I stand continually upon the watchtower – As a faithful watchman should do. A watchman watches for the morning and watches for danger. Pastor Russell fulfilled both of these duties. |
| 9 When lo! here was a train of men coming, With horsemen in double rank,–And one began and said, Fallen! fallen! is Babylon, And, all the images of her gods, are smashed to the ground! |
Babylon – Christendom, confusion, especially the confused condition of being mixed with the civil powers, the union of church and state. |
| 10 O thou My threshing! And the grain of my corn-floor! That which I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, Have I declared, unto you. |
My threshing – A reference to the Harvest Work of threshing out the grain.
Corn of my floor – Compare Matt. 3:12. |
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| 11 The oracle on Dumah: Unto me, is one crying–out of Seir, Watchman! how far gone is the night? Watchman! how far gone is the night? |
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| 12 Said the watchman, There cometh a morning, But also, a night,–If ye will enquire, enquire, ye–Come, again! |
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| 13 The oracle on Arabia,–Among the shrubs in Arabia, must ye lodge, Ye caravans of Dedanites. |
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| 14 To meet the thirsty, bring ye water,–Ye dwellers in the land of Tema; With bread for him, get in advance of him that is in flight! |
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| 15 For, before swords, have they fled: Before a sword that is drawn, Before a bow that is bent, And before the stress of war. |
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| 16 For, thus, hath My Lord said unto me,–Within a year according to the yearn of a hireling, shall fail all the glory of Kedar; |
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| 17 And, the remnant of the record of bowmen, The heroes of the sons of Kedar, Shall become few; For, Yahweh, God of Israel, hath spoken. |
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